SIGNS OF LIVING TO PLEASE GOD...by Richard Baxter

"So whether we are at home or away,
we make it our aim to please Him."
-2 Cor. 5:9

"For the love of Christ controls us,
because we have concluded this:
that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
and he died for all, that those who live might
no longer live for themselves but for him who
for their sake died and was raised."
-2 Cor. 5:14-16

See therefore that you live upon God's approval as that which you chiefly seek, and will suffice you: which you may discover by these signs.

1. You will be most careful to understand the Scripture, to know what doth please and displease God. (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Peter 1:3-4)

2. You will be more careful in the doing of every duty, to fit it to the pleasing of God than men. (1 Cor. 10:31)

3. You will look to your hearts, and not only to your actions; to your ends, and thoughts, and the inward manner and degree. (Psalm 139:23-24)

4. You will look to secret duties as well as public and to that which men see not, as well as unto that which they see. (Psalm 19:14)

5. You will reverence your consciences, and have much to do with them, and will not slight them: when they tell you of God's displeasure, it will disquiet you; when they tell you of his approval, it will comfort you. (Acts 24:16; Heb. 4:12-16)

6. Your pleasing men will be charitable for their good, and pious in order to the pleasing of God, and not proud and ambitious for your honour with them, nor impious against the pleasing of God. (Roms. 15:2)

7. Whether men be pleased or displeased, or how they judge of you, or what they call you, will seem a small matter to you, as their own interest, in comparison to God's judgment. You live not on them. You can bear their displeasure, censures, and reproaches, if God be but pleased. These will be your evidences. (1 Cor. 4:1-5)

A Bold Orthodoxy Proclaimed Humbly...John MacArthur speaks the straight truth to EC guru Doug Pagitt

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ¶ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves." -2 Corinthians 4:1-7

In these few brief words, the Apostle gives us the blueprint for genuine ministry: humble servants of Christ, proclaiming the treasure of the gospel. It is the marriage of humility and orthodoxy; demeanor and doctrine brought into partnership through the ministry of the Holy Spirit so that we may be vessels fit for the Master's use.

IMHO, this is John MacArthur's manner and mandate wonderfully exemplified in the above YouTube clip.

John MacArthur does an excellent job at speaking biblically, authoritatively, succinctly, in confronting the "twisted Yoga infused faith" (pun intended) of EC leader Doug Pagitt. The interviewer at CNN rightly quoted from the Merriam-Webster definition of yoga:

"A Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation."

And Pagitt thinks this can combined with biblical Christianity in order to feel whole in body, soul and mind?

I posted an article about this last month that you might want to reread to gain more insight in this discussion.

Orthodoxy Proclaimed Boldly
This video clip also helps crystalize an issue being discussed in various ways today pertaining to the phrase "humble orthodoxy." This phrase combines two important words for all of us today: the character we are to have in ministry: humility; and the uncompromising dedication to the truth claims of God's Word: orthodoxy. The phrase was created by Eric Simmons with New Attitude. NA is doing great things today for the gospel in equipping young adults with solid doctrine and tools to address and minister to a postmodern moral pluralistic culture. I thank the Lord for them and all they are doing for the kingdom.

At the same time, I have struggled with the phrase "humble orthodoxy" at face value because so many within the EC movement have hijacked those terms to mean that truth must be uncertain and therefore, "modest"; that truth is to be liquid, changing, fluid, adapting, ever-changing, etc. (their words - not mine). IOW, can we really know what is orthodox or not? Can we really know what Scripture is truly saying? Is truth subjective and dependant on the culture to find its interpretation, or is it something that is objective, knowable, and not dependant upon the shifting sands of any culture of any generataion? I believe the later and reject the former.

Theology matters; doctrine matters; truth matters.

I personally like a phrase that was emailed to me this morning in helping to put legs to "humble orthodoxy" that simply says, "humble servants proclaiming orthodoxy boldly." That weds perfectly the character of humility and the uncompromising biblical truth claims of our faith; and I want to wholeheartedly affirm and believe that this is what I think our brothers at NA are saying.

Pagitt (as well as McLaren, Ward, Burke, Sweet, Jones, etc.) denies much of orthodox Christianity to reinvent the faith by the lens of postmodernity (I won't go into his errant distinctives at this time). I have heard people say of him, "he is so humble and he represents truth that is also humble; he doesn't speak authoritatively at all and doesn't claim to know everything; he seems to respect all faiths and beliefs..." blah, blah blah. I.e. - the philosophical claims of Yoga.

So while we all, by God's grace, strive to have a "humble - orthodoxy.", may we take the time to unfold the meaning of those two tremendous words; for the devil is in the details and in today's postmodern world, clarity is to be cherished. Amen?

"Lord Jesus, grant us humble men of God who are not afraid to speak the truth in a biblical, uncompromising way--."

Yours for the Master's use,
Steve
Romans 1:16-17